Undergarment



R. W. COLLIN] Feb. 19, 1952 UNDERGARMENT 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 7,1949 INENTOlQ. e wl' wmvw a Aiiorne s Feb. 19, 1952 R. w. COLLIN]2,585,614

UNDERGARMENT Filed Sept. 7, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I N VEN TOR.

Patented Feb. 19, 1952 UNDERGARMENT Ruth Weaver Collini, New York, N. Y.

Application September 7, 1949, Serial No. 114,340

Claims. (o1. 2-41) The present invention relates to new and usefulimprovements in feminine foundation garments and more particularlytomaternity girdles. Maternity girdles as heretofore constructed havebeen too heavily boned, with too much emphasis on surgical structure,and do not control to the full extent of the normal abdominal expansion,nor are they capable of properly accommodating the modern young womanwho is used to light-weight control. The object of the invention is toovercome these disadvantages associated with previously used maternitygirdles, and to achieve other important results.

One object of the invention is to give the expectant mother completesupport over the full extent of the abdominal expansion duringpregnancy, while at the same time being of a very lightweightconstruction. These features combine to satisfy the medical and physicalneed for support and to give a maximum of comfort and freedom for thewearer.

Another object of this invention is to give substantially the sameamount of support to the wearer as pregnancy advances, and to beadaptable to give this support over the full period of pregnancy.

These advantages are achieved by using, in the part of the garment thatcovers the abdomen, material that is much more elastic in one directionthan it is in another, and holding this portion of the garment in theproper position to support the expanded abdomen of the wearer by anotherpanel of material that is much more elastic in a direction at rightangles to the elasticity of the abdomen covering portion.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be moreclearly understood from the following description and drawings, inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a front view of a maternity girdle embodying the presentinvention in a pantiegirdle, i. e., one containing a crotch piece;

1 and 2, the girdle I0 is adapted to extend downwardly from the waist ofthe wearer over the buttocks and hips. The-girdle I0 comprises a frontpanel II, a rear panel l2, two side panels l3 and I4 and a crotch pieceI 5. Theside panels I3 and I4 comprise upper side parts 28) and 2|,

Fig. 2 is a rear view of the same girdle as Fig. 1; r

Fig. 3 is a front view of a maternity girdle embodying the presentinvention;

Fig. 4 is a rear view of the girdle of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of the adjustable laces on the sides of thegirdle or pantie-girdle; and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a maternity girdle embodying the presentinvention as it appears on the wearer.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, in the embodiment of theinvention shown by Figs.

respectively, and leg portions 22 and 23, respectively. The front panelH is substantially trapezoidal in shape and extends downwardly from thewaist of the wearer to cover the abdomen; it is joined at its lower edgeto the leg portion 22 and 23 and to the crotch member l5 by a seam IS.The front panel II is made of a material that is much more elastic inthe vertical direction as shown by the arrows A than it is in thehorizontal direction. This will allow the panel to expand outwardly toconform to the enlarged abdomen of the wearer during pregnancy, but,since it will not expand in any appreciable amount horizontally, it willat all times give a firm support to the wearer.

The rear panel is substantially trapezoidal in shape and extendsdownwardly from the waist of the wearer to a seam 24. It is joinedthroughout its vertical edges by seams l8 and I9 to side 'members [3 andM respectively. The rear panel 7 is also more elastic in the verticaldirection, as

shown by arrows B, than it is in the horizontal direction. This providesfor the expansion necessary in the rear so that the wearer may sitwithout any uncomfortable force being exerted on the legs and crotch.

The side panels I3 and I4 have upper narrow portions 20 and 2|,respectively, extending downwardly from the waist along the sides of thegarment and widening into the tubular leg portions 22 and 23. The legand side panels 13 and I4 are made of material that is much more elasticin the horizontal direction, as indicated by arrows C, than in thevertical direction. The fact that these portions do not stretchvertically enables them to anchor the front panel I I. The horizontalelasticity, however, will hold the wearers body snugly and allow freedomof movement by the wearer.

The crotch member I5 is joined to the front panel by the seam I6 andjoined to the rear panel by seam 24 and also joined to leg members 22and 23 by seams 25 and 26, respectively. The crotch member is made of amaterial that is much more elastic longitudinally, as indicated by thearrow A, than it is transversely.

The front panel II, although sewn along seam IE to the leg portions 22and 23, is not attached to the upper side parts 20 and 2| except bylacings 21 and 28 shown in detail in Fig. 6. This lacing will allow thewearer to adjust the front 'members 34 may be placed. These bone membersare not necessary to the operation of the invention and may be usedmerely to keep the laces steady and to keep them from rolling under.Cloth flap 35 is sewn to the edge of panel i3 and I4 so that it can beplaced between the lacings and the wearer as shown in Fig. 6, and thedotted position of Fig. 5, in order to prevent the lacings from pinchingor causing discomfort to the wearer.

The garment is also provided with the con ventional garter straps 36.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. '3 and 4 the girdle 40does not contain a crotch member but constitutes rather a mere bodyencircling garment having member 3! and the lower portions 38 and 39 ofside panels l3 and I4 respectively. These are not tubular in shape andthus do not completely encircle the legs of the wearer.

The member 3'! is made of a material that is much more elastic in thevertical direction than in the horizontal direction, thus securelycentering and directionalizing the horizontal stretch in the lowerportions of the side members 38 and 39.

Since the side members l3 and M do not readily stretch in the verticaldirection, they serve to securely hold the front panel II in position,and its lower end will be fixed along seam l6. Since the front panel IIwill stretch primarily in the vertical direction and is secured alongseam l6 it will give the wearer support that is fixed in the properlocation.

I claim:

1. A maternity foundation garment comprising a plurality of panels, afront panel extending downwardly from the waist to a line substantiallycoextensive with the groin line of the wearer, said front panel havingsubstantially the same width throughout and having its extreme sideedges substantially coextensive with a substantially vertical lineextending downwardly from the front portion of the crest of the wearersileum, said extreme side edges being substantially perpendicular to thelower edge of said front panel, whereby said panel is adapted to coveronly but completely the abdomen of the wearer. said front panel beingmore elastic in a vertical direction than in the horizontal direction,substantially L-shaped side panels having inwardly extending lowerhorizontal portions and vertical portions, the upper edge of said lowerhorizontal portions being secured to the lower edge of the front panelalong a line substantially coextensive with the groin line of thewearer, the vertical portions of said side panels extending upwardlyalong the sides of the garment and being secured to the side edges ofsaid front panel, said side panels being substantially inelastic in thevertical direction whereby the lower. portion of said side panels willact as an anchor to firmly position the lower edge of said front panel,and a rear panel. 2 A maternityfoundation garment as claimed in claim 1including a rear panel more elastic in 'the'vertical direction than inthe horizontal direction.

3. A maternity foundation garment as claimed in'claim 1 wherein saidsecuring means between the said edges of said front panel and thevertical portions of said L-shaped side panels comprises an adjustablefastening means, said adjustable fastening means extending downwardlyfrom the top edge of the garment to a point substantially coextensivewith a point overlying the groin line of the wearer.

4. A maternity foundation garment as claimed in claim 1 wherein saidlower portions of said side panels have their edges joined togetherforming tubular leg portions adapted to surround the thigh of thewearer, and said garment having a crotch panel fastened to the loweredge of the front and rear panels and fastened along its sides to theside panels.

57 A maternity foundation garment as claimed in claim 1 including acentrally located lower panel, said lower panel being secured to thelower edge of said front panel and secured on each side to the innermostedges of the lower portions of the side panels, said centrally locatedlower panel being more elastic in the vertical direction than in thehorizontal direction.

RUTH WEAVER COLLINI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,341,882 Scriggins Feb. 15, 19442,344,374 Stephens Mar. 14, 1944 2,409,601 Truesdell Oct. 15, 19462,435,945 Redmond Feb. 10, 1948

